West Virginia University suspends in-person classes as covid-19 cases increase

West Virginia University on Monday suspended in-person classes at its Morgantown campus for undergraduate students for at least two weeks.

Additionally, the university placed 29 students under interim suspension from its Morgantown campus Sunday, due to violations of the university’s student code of conduct.

The university has limited social gatherings to under 25 people, said Corey Farris, dean of students.

“Most students are following the covid-19 guidelines, but a handful of our students are being selfish and not following the guidelines and that’s disappointing,” he said Monday.

He said the 29 students were notified by letter and will face formal hearings in the coming weeks. They are not allowed on campus or permitted to take classes.

He classified an interim suspension as rare at West Virginia University, yet necessary because the students “pose an immediate threat to the health and safety of our community.”

Online classes will be taught for at least two weeks through Sept. 25. Graduate and professional courses will continue to be offered in person.

All other WVU branch campuses will continue to operate as planned.

The action by the university is in response to a recent increase in positive cases in students on the Morgantown campus. There were multiple reports of parties held over the Labor Day weekend when groups should have been in quarantine, officials said.

A recent post on the official WVU Facebook page confirmed the university was “aware of large parties.”

WVU’s campus testing results Sept. 2 reported a 11.6% positive rate with 48 positives out of 412 students tested, a decrease from the 13.4% positive rate reported the day before.

Testing results from Sept. 4-6 are delayed while the university receives and confirms additional data.

University officials said a member of the Theta Chi fraternity who had tested positive for covid-19 disregarded university isolation guidelines and attended a gathering at the frat house.

“We know that these parties act as super spreaders. Their flagrant disregard for the health and safety of their classmates, our campus and the entire Morgantown community will not be tolerated,” Farris said.

WVU’s website lists the following Greek chapters as not recognized by WVU and currently subject to ongoing conduct related sanctions: Alpha Sigma Phi, Kappa Alpha Order, Theta Chi, Sigma Chi and Phi Sigma Kappa.

“While we are aware that some students have made the wrong decision to attend house parties off-campus, we also know the majority have occurred at unaffiliated fraternity houses,” Farris said. “This should serve as a message to anyone else who thinks the rules don’t apply to them. They do, and we will hold you accountable.”

WVU plans to reevaluate the public health situation Sept. 25 to decide whether a return to on-campus instruction, currently scheduled for Sept. 28, will resume.

The Trib reported last week more than 470 WVU students are in quarantine.

Monongalia County, which includes Morgantown, moved to the “red” distinction Friday in the state’s color-coded covid-19 alert map. Gov. Jim Justice closed Monongalia County bars indefinitely Sept. 2.